Lacessit

Penis or ego?

A lunch that continues for the rest of the working day, apparently.

I doubt I could name one corporation that has ALL the benefits the American military provides. I also doubt many military people know or care their organization has many features of socialism. Having said that, I'd bet a considerable proportion of military personnel find the certainty of service more comforting than civilian life. Why is the concept of the American military being socialist so offensive to you? Is it because, like many Americans, you have been indoctrinated since birth socialism is evil? As the Second Amendment is regarded as holy writ by many Americans? Socialism is no more evil than capitalism. Both have the capacity for good, and evil if taken to excess.

Today, playing golf after an overnight soaking, I observed one of the ground staff mowing a fairway along with a fair amount of water. Did not bother to deviate from the pools. The military course I play at has just sanded all its greens. I fail to understand what the greenkeepers think they are achieving, because without coring a green before it is sanded, all that is going to happen is extra wear on the mower blades. There are two more upmarket courses in Chiang Rai that also sand without coring. I also don't understand why a greenkeeper would apply fertiliser to a green, then fail to water it in. Of course, as a farang, if I raised these observations I might cause loss of face. Anyone else see these things happening at the golf course they play on?

It’s been a year like no other. The oil price went negative, airlines were grounded, some forever. A single meat market in Wuhan, specializing in exotic meats for conspicuous consumption by wealthy Chinese, generated a virus which spread like wildfire. Countries went into lockdown, some stringently, some half-heartedly. The results are there for everyone to see. Millions became employed overnight. Some countries responded with support, others opted for benign neglect. Vaccines were developed at unprecedented speed. A would-be tyrant was rejected at the polls. Most if not all of us will say goodbye and good riddance to 2020. I’m in Thailand by choice and some good luck. Two weeks later in February, and I would still be locked down in Australia, contemplating slashing my wrists. A much more enjoyable life for me here. Having said that, there are some things I miss about my home country. I miss the wind. In Thailand, it seems the wind can’t get much above a gentle zephyr. I would rug up with about four layers of clothing in winter, go down to Gunnamatta beach with an offshore wind of 50-60 km/hr, and watch 10 metre waves pound the coast. Nature at its most primeval. I miss the wineries that dot the Mornington Peninsula, where one could have a light lunch and a couple of glasses of the local product, which most of the time was very good. Apart from Thai wine quality, I don’t believe Thais know what a cellar door is, or what it’s for. I miss my 2004 Mitsubishi Magna AWD sedan, IMO one of the most underrated vehicles ever produced. Balanced like a cat on dirt roads and wet bitumen. About a third the new car price of a comparable Mercedes. My son has it now, still plugging along with 300,000 km on the odometer. I miss the golf competitions I used to play. Par, foursomes, match play, Canadian foursomes. Here, it’s just stroke and Stableford. Boring. I miss the camaraderie of the Wednesday Boys. 15 – 20 of us, some real characters and nicknames. The Poet, The Farmer, The Whippet, Pistol Pete, Triple Treat. Best net score got a two-dollar coin from every other player, with an appropriate obeisance. Some really acid sledging during play, one of the best at my expense. A day when I was spraying my tee shots all over the course, but making pars because I’m holing putts from everywhere on the greens. Our group gets to the seventeenth tee, par 3, and I’m fretting about club selection, is it a 6 or 7 iron? One of my mates says “ Why don’t you tee off with your putter? It’s the only club you’ve hit straight all day”. I miss a Gippsland eye fillet steak, medium, with a Warby Ranges Shiraz. Followed by a King Island blue brie on water crackers. I miss grilled flake and chips,with a pickled onion on the side. Flake is also known as shark to non-Australians, very sweet fish, and filling. All the best to everyone on TV over Christmas, and may 2021 be better. What do you miss?